Liquid dispensing apparatus and motor useable for operating same



June 10, 1969 G. L. TURNER ET AL 3,448,928

LIQUID DISPENSING APPARATUS AND MOTOR USEABLE FOR OPERATING SAME Filed July 21, 1967 I If :57 A7 FIG. 1

1 w/1w 3, fl

57 k 376. Z 56 27 G:L.TURNER 3 G.A. JOHNSON R.A.DISBROW 2 5 memwwmas 43 IN VENTORS W BY 22 CLIPZMRJ ATTORNEY United States Patent US. Cl. 239-251 11 Claims ABSTRACT OF THE DISCLOSURE This invention concerns a simplified fluidic motor and more specifically a rotary lawn sprinkler utilizing said simplified fluidic motor as part of same, and where part of the main stream of water passing through said sprinkler and its fluidic motor is intermittently bypassed through a single vacuum passageway which is located along one side of said main stream. The passageway for said main water stream first having a venturi beyond which said passageway first expands sidewise on one side along said vacuum passageway wall and then retracts gradually to a point where the end of same would normally contact the side of said main water stream if flowing straight through said motor without diversion. The inlet end of said vacuum passageway being just beyond the end of said retracting wall with said main passageway wall extending a short distance beyond said inlet and substantially in line with the side of said straight flowing main stream. The opposite side of said main stream passageway extending from said venturi and clearing the side of the straight flowing main stream but terminating short of the outer end of said opposite retracting wall and opening outward as shown in the drawing for sidewise delivery of said water stream. Means also being supplied ahead of said venturi for varying the water flow without varying the inlet pressure to said lawn sprinkler. The bi-stable or flipflop operation of the present invention is as follows: With the main water stream flowing straight through said motor without diversion and said vacuum passageway full of air, the vacuum produced by said venturi will draw some water from said main water stream into the inlet of said vacuum passageway and this will vary the vacuum produced by said venturi and said main water stream will then move sidewise and follow said sidewise expanding wall to said retracting portion which will divert same sidewise so that it clears the inlet end of said vacuum passageway and allows air to start flowing into same, while said sidewise diverted water will give a rotary force to said lawn sprinkler to rotate same. This entry of air into said vacuum passageway again varies the vacuum produced by said venturi and the main water stream will again shift to straight through position to restart the cycle again.

The present invention relates broadly to fluid driven motors and liquid dispensing equipment, and more particularly to lawn sprinklers and motors actuated by water flowing through same.

This invention is a simplified modification of the invention set forth in the co-pending US. patent application of Turner, Johnson, Disbrow and Nestell filed October 3, 1966, Serial No. 583,659, and with a specific form of same being a special lawn sprinkler and the motor used to operate same with said motor having no moving parts in the driving portion of same.

Lawn sprinklers of the motor driven movable sprinkling outlet type have been universally made with the motor portion having pivoted moving mechanical parts in the form of pivoted vanes, gears, valves or the like for moving the sprinkling outlet portion, in addition to reversing members commonly utilizing springs or toggle action devices where back and forth sprinkling over an adjustable size are is involved. A common form of nonmotor driven lawn sprinkler has a vertically mounted rotary head with outlet nozzles which make the sprinkler head spin in a horizontal plane due to inclining the nozzles of the head in a backward direction to provide a rotary jet reaction force. These lawn sprinklers generally have an uneven ring-like sprinkling coverage. Another common type lawn sprinkler has a humped-up center generally horizontal tube with perforations in a row lengthwise thereof for delivering water in an up-and-over, backand-forth wave pattern with part or all of the water passing first through a mechanical motor which has moving parts in the form of pivoted vanes, paddles or the like connected to linkages to shift the horizontal tube back and forth about its substantially horizontal axis. The moving parts of these motors wear out in time, and at the same time are constantly subject to plugging with foreign matter which may get into the garden hose through which the sprinkling water is delivered to the sprinkler. The dismantling of these motors for repair or unplugging is generally relatively expansive and to be done by specialists in repairing this type of equipment, if same can be repaired. It was a recognition of these problems and dimculties which led to the conception and development of the sprinkler motor and the sprinkler assembly of the aforementioned US. patent application Serial No. 583,- 659 as well as our present simplified apparatus, both of which operate on a completely new fluidic principle not previously utilized commercially in the sprinkler art.

Accordingly, among the objects of the present invention is the provision of a simplified lawn sprinkler with no moving mechanical parts in the motor portion which rotates same for sprinkling an area surrounding said lawn sprinkler.

Another object of this invention is to provide a motor with no moving mechanical parts but which provides operating power internally of same due to the fluid flowing through same moving sidewise back and forth inside the motor, through which it flows, due to the reaction caused by varying a self-induced vacuum formed within the motor itself.

A further object is to provide a lawn sprinkler having a motor portion with an angularly offset vacuum passageway at one side of the main liquid flow path through said motor portion which main path is enlarged alongside of said angularly offset passageway and in the same direction, and which offset passageway is alternately semiblocked and opened by said liquid flowing out of the outlet end of said sprinkler in manner providing the sprinkler reaction force which drives the rotary sprinkler head in one direction.

A further object is to provide said sprinkler motor with a venturi at its inlet end to provide a vacuum used for operating said motor by moving the main stream of liquid flow back and forth sidewise within said motor as said liquid flows through same.

A further object is to provide a new method of bistable or flip-flop shifting of the flow of a liquid under pressure to provide rotative power for a motor having no moving mechanical parts.

Still further objects and advantages of this invention will appear as the description proceeds.

To the accomplishment of the foregoing and related ends, the invention, then, consists of the motor and sprinkler assembly and method hereinafter fully described and particularly pointed out in the claims, the annexed drawing and the following description setting forth in detail certain illustrative embodiments of the present invention,

such disclosed embodiments illustrating, however, but one of various ways in which the principle of the invention may be used.

In the annexed drawing:

FIGURE 1 shows a side view of a preferred form of lawn sprinkler embodying the present invention with the upper portion of same being vertically sectioned along its center line to better illustrate certain features of the present invention.

FIGURE 2 is a sectional view as taken along line II--II of FIGURE 1, looking in the direction of the arrows.

FIGURE 3 is a sectional view as taken along line III-III of FIGURE 1, looking in the direction of the arrows.

Referring more particularly to the three figures on the drawing, it is to be noted that a simplified form of the sprinkler is shown, the construction and operation of which will be hereinafter described. This sprinkler has a base 11 having a water inlet connection 12 adapted to be connected to a conventional garden hose 13 having a conventionally threaded male coupling end 14. This water inlet connection 12 is on the inlet end of water passageway 15, FIGURE 1, with the outlet end of said passageway 15 being at the top of said sprinkler base 11. This outlet end of water passageway 15, as shown, is substantially vertical and provided with internal threads 16 which are preferably of the tapered pipe thread type adapted to receive the threaded end of coupler 17 which is provided with like type external threads. This coupler 17 is prefferably made hexagonal in the portion 18 of same directly above the top of base 11 so that same can be engaged with a suitable size wrench (not shown) and tightened in place as illustrated in FIGURE 1. Rotatably fitting inside of coupler 17 is a tubular sleeve 19 having an outwardly flanged lower end 20. A gasket 21 fits between flanged end of sleeve 19 and the lower end of coupler 17 to form a fluid tight connection at this point while allowing sleeve 19 to be freely rotatable in said coupler. Coupler 17 may be either of metal, plastic, fibre, or the equivalent and it is intended that the showing be considered as diagrammatically illustrating all forms of same. The upper end of sleeve 19 is preferably of a drive fit into the lower end portion 22 of the sprinkler head assembly 23, although the two could be joined with threads, set screws, or the equivalent, and it is intended that such be considered to be diagrammatically shown.

Referring to FIGURE 1, it will be noted that the sprinkler head assembly 23 has a body portion 24 with inlet passageway 25 to receive-fluid, such as water, flowing up through tubular sleeve 19 and deliver same to the inlet end of duct 26 leading to the interior of fluid motor 27, the interior construction of which will be hereinafter described. Mounted on the upper face of body portion 24 of the sprinkler head assembly 23 and forming part of the latter is a cover panel 28 which may be cemented, fused, screw joined, or otherwise fastened in place on the upper face of said body portion 24 in manner enclosing and sealing the fluid motor 27 operating parts between them.

If desired, the flow of fluid, such as water, through duct 26 may be adjustably controlled by a controller 29, a preferred form of which is shown in the drawing. Referring more particularly to FIGURE 1 it will be noted'that cover panel 28 is preferably provided with a boss 30 directly above duct 26 with such boss provided with a drilled and internally threaded opening 31 centered on duct 26. Threadedly fitting said opening 31 is a screw member 32 having an operating knob 33 on its outer end and a metering member 34 on its inner end. Said metering member 34 being of a size and length such that when screw member 32 is fully tightened the metering member 34 will substantially stop fluid flow through duct 26, and yet adjustment of screw member 32 can be used to regulate the operation of the assembly as desired without-varying the inlet pressure of the liquid being delivered to the sprinkler.

Referring to FIGURE 2, it will be noted that the interior of the fluid motor 27 has several fixed portions in cluding inlet 25 leading into the inlet end of duct 26 and an outlet 35 from the latter which terminates at the inner end of main flow waterway 36 with the juncture of the two forming venturi 37 of the fluid motor 27. Waterway 36 extends to the outlet end 38 of same through which the flowing water is discharged. One side 39 of waterway 36 is preferably smooth and relatively straight, and spaced outward to clear the side of the stream of flowing water for uninterrupted flow of water adjacent to same. At the other side of waterway 36 is a directional wall 40 which is'preferably of rib 'form having two parts, namely (1) an outwardly flaring portion 41 starting substantially at venturi 37, and (2) an inwardly contracting portion 42 which terminates substantially at the outlet end 38 of vvaterway 36, and substantially in line with the side of said stream when same is flowing straight through waterway 36. Said portions 41 and 42 of directional wall 40 may terminate at their juncture in substantially straight lines, or if desired same may have a smoothly curved juncture, all for a purpose to be hereinafter explained. Behind said directional wall is a vacuum passageway 43 having one end open into an enlarged chamber 44 alongside venturi 37, while the other end of said passageway 43 terminates in fluid inlet 45 at the end of inwardly flaring pt'i'rtion 42 of directional wall 40. The larger the vacuum passageway 43 is, the slower will be the actuating flip-flop m6vement of the liquid passing through waterway 36, since the variation in the vacuum at the venturi and which aetuates the sidewise shifting of the flow through the motor 27 depends upon how long it takes to empty the liquid out of vacuum passageway 43 and the greater its vblume the longer it takes. A modified operation is invl'ved when passageway 43 is relatively short with the inlet positioned so that the main stream in its straight through flow path will instantly plug inlet 45, thus changiri g the vacuum at the venturi and shifting the main stream to follow walls 41 and 42 and opening inlet 45 which again shifts the main stream of water to a straight-through flow arid plugging inlet 45 to repeat the cycle. With this modifled construction the main stream will flip-flop rapidly in its flow.

The operation of fluid motor 27 depends upon several factors which will now be explained in detail. Water flowing under pressure through inlet 25 into duct 26, through venturi 37 and into and through Waterway 36 and out through outlet 38 will, if passageway 43 is open, permit the stream of water to flow in a substantially straight but gradually expanding path through fluid motor 27 and out ofoutlet end 38. Moreover, if passageway 43 is not closed, biit filled solely with air, a little of the stream of water passing through waterway 36 and across fluid inlet 45 of passageway 43 will gradually enter said inlet 45 due to thie vacuum created by venturi 37 adjacent the outer end of chamber 44 and the outlet end 46 of passageway 43. This vacuum created by venturi 37 at the outlet end of passageway 43 will draw the water received in inlet 45 down through passageway 43, and as soon as this body of water fills passageway 43 and reaches the outlet end 46 of 'same it will alter the effect of the vacuum at that poin. ahd the water stream will shift from a slightly flaring straight outward flow path through waterway 36, and substantially 'follow the adjacent side of directional wall 40, first following the outward flaring portion 41 of same and then the inwardly contracting portion 42 of same, which will deflect at least a portion of the stream so that it passes out through outlet 38 in a path at a sidewise angle to the center line of fluid motor 27. The deflected stream will thus clear fluid inlet 45 so that air can flow thereinto as the water in passageway 43 is being drawn from same by the vacuum created by venturi 37 at outlet end 46 of passageway 43. When the water in passageway 43 completely passes out of said passageway it throws the vacuum created by venturi 37 out of balance once more and the stream following directional wall 40 will again revert to a substantially straight outward expanding flow path with the side of the stream adjacent fluid inlet 45 of passageway 43 again supplying some water to be drawn into said inlet 45 due to the vacuum created at outlet end 46 of said passageway. When this water drawn into inlet 45 of passageway 43 fills same and reaches outlet 46, it again throws the vacuum created at venturi 37 out of balance and the stream of water once more follows directional wall 40 to repeat the cycle, with air again flowing into fluid inlet 45 of passageway 43. If passageway 43 is enlarged from the size shown in FIGURE 2, it will hold more water and take longer for the vacuum created at venturi 37 to empty same, thus correspondingly lengthening the flip-flop cycle of the water flowing through waterway 36.

It is thus to be noted that we have a stream of water which is stable in two states, but only one at a time, namely either along the surface of directional wall 40 or in a straight-through path substantially clearing a major portion of the wall 40 in waterway 36. This fluid motor, accordingly, may be termed a bi-stable or flip-flop device, with the following of the water along directional wall 40, in a sense, being due to what may be called a centrifugal effect while at the same time clearing the wall at the opposite side of main passageway 43'.

Again referring to FlIGURE 1 with the interior of the fluid motor formed substantially as shown in FIGURE 2, the stream of water flowing through same (will either pass substantially straight outward from the end of the sprinkler with no turning effect, or angling moderately to the right, FIGURE 2, due to following the inwardly contracting portion 42 of directional wall 40, with the reaction force of this sidewise turned stream thus producing a counterclockwise turning force.

The inner construction of fluid motor 27 may be inverted from that shown in FIGURE 2, and will operate in the same manner except that the rotation will be clockwise. Since the same identical parts are involved and which function in identically the same manner, it is intended that the construction shown be considered to diagrammatically illustrate and describe both forms of the invention while at the same time avoiding duplication of illustration and description.

While but one embodiment of the invention has been illustrated and described herein, it is to be understood that minor modifications may be made to the sprinkler, as well as the construction of its operating motor [within the spirit and scope of the invention, as herein set forth. It is also to be noted that while directional terms have been used, same are not to be construed as a limitation of the invention since such use has been availed of to better describe the invention in the position illustrated in the drawing.

Other modes of applying the principle of our invention may be employed instead of the one explained, change being made as regards the means and the methods herein disclosed.

We therefore particularly point out and distinctly claim as our invention:

1. A lawn sprinkler which comprises,

(a) a sprinkler head assembly,

(b) means supporting said sprinkler head assembly in a substantially vertical axis rotatable operating position and delivering liquid under pressure to the inlet of same,

(c) a fluid operated motor forming part of said sprinkler head assembly and having a liquid passageway therethrough for said liquid delivered to the inlet of same,

(d) said motor portion of said sprinkler head assembly having a venturi substantially at the inlet end of said liquid passageway therethrough,

(e) said motor having along one side of said liquid passageway a relatively straight wall clearing said liquid flow in its straight outward path, and an angular directional wall along the other side of said passageway, with said directional wall first flaring gradually outwardly from the venturi end of same and then gradually inwardly to a point substantially coinciding with the position of the side of said stream of liquid when flowing in a straight outward path through said sprinkler head from said venturi,

(f said motor having a vacuum passageway behind said directional wall,

(g) said motor having a vacuum connection from outlet end of said vacuum passageway to said venturi,

(h) said sprinkler head assembly including a covered body portion containing said motor portion and having said fluid inlet at one end and said outlet at its other end, said outlet having one side substantially in line with the side of said stream when flowing directly over said vacuum passageway inlet, the other side of said outlet being at the end of said first wall which is retracted to permit substantially free flow of liquid passing angularly outward from the inwardly directed end portion of said angular directional Wall, whereby the flowing of liquid through said motor in a substantially straight through path, with the vacuum passageway filled with air, will, through the vacuum, draw liquid from said stream into said vacuum passageway until same is filled to its outlet end where said liquid changes the vacuum effect of said venturi and the main stream of liquid flowing through said sprinkler head assembly will then flip and follow said angular directional wall and uncover the inlet to said vacuum passageway so that air will flow into same and follow the liquid being discharged from said passageway, and when said liquid discharge is completed, the vacuum effect created by said venturi will be altered and shift the main stream of liquid flow to straight through said motor portion again thus starting the repeating of the cycle of operation.

2. The lawn sprinkler as set forth in claim 1, wherein said means supporting said sprinkler head assembly in a rotatable operating position, is in the form of a base, with a substantially vertical outlet, a hollow coupler mounted in substantially vertical position on the top of said base, a tubular sleeve rotatably fitting inside said coupler, said sleeve having an outturned flange on its lower end for extending under the lower end of said coupler, a gasket between said sleeve outturned flange and the lower end of said coupler, means for fixedly anchoring said sprinkler head assembly on the upper end of said sleeve, and fluid inlet means on said base for the passage of liquid to and through said base to said sprinkler head assembly.

3. The lawn sprinkler as set forth in claim 1, wherein there is a flow control means in said sprinkler head assembly ahead of the venturi to vary the actuation of said lawn sprinkler with the liquid being delivered to said sprinkler head under substantially the same pressure.

4. The lawn sprinkler as set forth in claim 3, wherein said flow control means comprises a threaded member having an operating knob on its outer end and a metering member on its inner end, said metering member fitting into said fluid duct having its outlet at said venturi, said metering member closely fitting said duct and capable of substantially closing same when fully inserted thereinto.

5. A lawn sprinkler as set forth in claim 2, wherein there is a flow control means in said sprinkler head assembly ahead of the venturi to vary the actuation of said lawn sprinkler with the liquid being delivered to said sprinkler head under substantially the same pressure.

6. A lawn sprinkler as set forth in claim 5, wherein said flow control means comprises a threaded member having an operating knob on its outer end and a metering member on its inner end, said metering member fitting into said fluid duct having its outlet at said venturi, said metering member closely fitting said duct and capable of substantially closing same when fully inserted thereinto.

7. A lawn sprinkler as set forth in claim 1, wherein its method of operation comprises (a) delivering liquid under pressure through the inlet thereof,

(b) passing said liquid through a vacuum producing passageway,

(c) at once delivering said vacuum producing liquid through a main passageway which gradually expands and then contracts on only one side and discharging said liquid out of said main passageway,

(d) returning a portion of said discharged liquid through a vacuum passageway alongside of said gradually expanding and contracting side of said liquid passageway to a point where its leading end joins said flow of liquid creating said vacuum, and

(e) following said portion of liquid flowing through said vacuum passageway with a gas flow portion, and continuously repeating said flow pattern,

whereby said alternately returned liquid and gas flowing through said vacuum passageway will alternately vary the vacuum effect of said flow of vacuum creating liquid so that the liquid passing out of said main passageway will oscillate back and forth between straight outward and sidewise diverted paths in step with the alternate return of liquid and gas through said vacuum passageway to said vacuum producing passageway, as a result of which said sidewise diverted liquid produces a uni-directional rotary turning force on the rotatable portion of said lawn sprinkler.

8. A lawn sprinkler as set forth in claim 1, wherein its method of operation comprises (at) delivering liquid under pressure through the inlet thereof,

(b) variably controlling the flow of said liquid as it passes through said inlet,

(c) passing said controlled flow of liquid through a vacuum producing passageway in the form of a venturi,

(d) at once delivering said vacuum producing liquid from said venturi through a main passageway which gradually expands and then contracts on only one side and then discharging said liquid out of said main passageway,

(e) returning a portion of said discharged liquid through a vacuum passageway alongside of said gradually expanding and contnacting side of said liquid passageway to a point where its leading end joins said flow of liquid creating said vacuum, and

(f) following said portion of liquid flowing through said vacuum passageway with a gas flow portion, and continuously repeating said flow pattern,

whereby said alternately returned liquid and gas flow through said vacuum passageway will alternately vary the vacuum etfect of said flow of vacuum creating liquid so that the liquid passing out of said main passageway will osc-rllate back and forth between straight outward and sidewise diverted paths in step with the alternate return of liquid and gas through said vacuum passageway to said vacuum producing passageway, as a result of which said sidewise diverted liquid produces a unidirectional rotary turning force on the rotatable portion of said lawn sprinkler.

9. A fluid operated motor having no moving mechanical arts and adapted for driving lawn sprinklers and other uses, which comprises (a) a body member having an inlet for a liquid under pressure at one end and an outlet for same at its other end,

(b) a cover panel for said body member,

(c) a venturi between said inlet and outlet but adjacent the former,

(d) a main passageway extending between said inlet and said outlet and including said venturi,

(e) one side of said main passageway being a relatively straight wall positioned to clear the adjacent side of the liquid stream,

(f) the other side of said main passageway including a wall first gradually flaring outwardly and then gradually contracting inwardly to a point substantially in line with the adjacent side of said liquid stream when same is flowing straight through said main passageway without being diverted,

(g) a vacuum passageway behind said Wall which gradually flares outwardly and then inwardly, and

(h) said vacuum passageway having an inlet adjacent but beyond the outer end of said inwardly con-tractting side portion of the wall of said rnain passageway, and an outlet leading to said venturi,

whereby with said vacuum passageway filled with a gaseous fluid, and said liquid under pressure flowing straight through and out of said main passageway and creating a vacuum at said venturi, some of said liquid will be drawn into the inlet of said vacuum passageway by the vacuum created therein by said venturi and when said liquid fills said vacuum passageway and said gaseous fluid has been exhausted from same, this will vary the vacuum formed by said venturi and said liquid flowing through said main passageway will shift and start following said gradually flaring side of said wall to said inwardly extending wall which will divert same sidewise through the outlet end of said main passage-way thus producing a sidewise thrust, and at the same time uncovering said inlet of said vacuum passageway for the flow of gaseous fluid 'thereinto and starting the next cycle of the motor.

10. A fluid motor as set forth in claim 9, wherein (a) there is an adjustable control means for the inlet of said body member for controlling the liquid flow to and through said venturi and main passageway.

11. A fluid operated motor as set forth in claim 9 (a) to (h), inclusive, wherein (a) said vacuum passageway inlet is positioned so that when said main stream is flowing straight through said main passageway it will plug said inlet and vary the vacuum at said venturi to shift 'the flow path of said liquid flowing through said main passageway and make it follow said inwardly and outwardly extending walls which will divert it sidewise out of said outlet and open said inlet of said vacuum passageway thus again varying the vacuum at said venturi to shift the path of said main stream to straight outward once more, thus starting the cycle of operation over again.

References Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS 2,916,873 12/1958 Walker 13781.5 3,135,291 6/1964 Kepler et al 137-81.5 3,143,856 8/1964 Hausmann 137-815 3,266,509 8/1966 Bauer :137-81.5

EVERETTE W. KIRBY, Primary Examiner.

US. Cl. X.R. 

